Title: Land of Light
Contents The kingdom that will come with great light Theme: This is a prophecy about Christ who will reign with justice and love. It shows the path from pain to joy, from contempt to glory, from oppression to liberation.
Word: Isaiah 8:16-9:7
Key words: word of evidence, shelter, follow, darkness, light (the light shines), joy, a child, a strange person, the king of peace, the throne of David, the zeal of the Lord
Listing by topic: When the great light comes
9:1: The despised land is glorified
9:2: In the land of darkness and the shadow of death, the light shines
9:3: The prosperous nation rejoices
9:4 Breaking the heavy yoke, the whip, and the oppressor's rod
9:6: One child, one son, the Prince of Peace
9:7: The zeal of the LORD sent a man to sit on David's throne and establish his kingdom.
Meditation on the Word: God will thoroughly judge the hostile empires of Israel and Assyria against His chosen people, but He will create a kingdom of justice and peace for the faithful remnant through His sovereignty.
Messiah's Birth Prophecy
The coastal roads of Zebulun and Naphtali, conquered by the Assyrians in 734-732 B.C. and many were taken as captivity, and Galilee, areas where the people of Israel despised and did not want to deal with them. These were symbols of places where God had completely abandoned them and despised them. It was inhabited by the poor, sinners, strangers and bloodthirsty, a land of iniquity and hopeless. But the light of salvation was shining right here. This was the message that the light of the Messiah would come here. Jesus was with the poor and oppressed people who groaned over their sins and touched their sore spots. The Messiah signifies God's power, presence, protection, and blessing. The light has come to Galilee, the ‘land of the shadow of death’ (verse 2), the land of those who are ignorant, lacking in possessions, marginalized, and despised.
darkness and light
The way to go from pain to joy, from contempt to glory, from oppression to liberation is only possible by the coming of the Messiah, the consummation of the history of redemption. Christ, who will rule the kingdom of God with justice and love, the coming King, will establish a reign of lasting peace. This peace is not a static state without war, but it is a dynamic peace in the sense of building a harmonious nation with ‘fairness’ and ‘justice’. Through the Messiah, a new age of transfiguration will usher in creation and in the redeemed community. No king or power alliance of Judah could bring about an age of fulfillment, as God is guaranteeing a new age and a new leader. Restoration is God's work and will be accomplished according to the Word. Therefore, man's hope is in God, who is the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Only God alone will fully fulfill the promises made to David.
Help: 1. You bind up the word of the testimony, and seal the law among my disciples (verse 16): Because of the rebellious attitude of the people, those who testified in the name of the Lord and those who preached the law to the people ceased their work.
2. He glorified the seaside road and the Gentile Galilee beyond the Jordan (Verse 1): These are the areas that suffered hardships due to the invading Assyrian army's devastating policy. The devastation caused by the extreme looting of the Assyrians in northern Galilee will soon be turned into bright glory.
Help Question: Observation
1. What are the other names for ‘one baby’ and ‘one son’? (9:6)
2. What will the Messiah do? (9:7)
contemplation/feeling
3. What will happen to those who have suffered before? In what way will they receive the light?
4. Meditate on the glorification of those in darkness and contempt and suffering through Christ (9:1-2).
apply
5. If your country is in darkness, where can you find light and hope? Is it still hidden?